Loose leaf pages suitable for binding

Abstract

The invention provides a loose leaf page for use in a binder such as an album, scrap book, and the like. The loose leaf page of the invention has a display panel and a binding panel. The binding panel is spaced apart from the display panel. The display panel and the binding panel are coated with a substantially transparent sheet that maintains the integrity of the page despite the space between the display and binding panels, and protects graphical content on the page from being scratched and other types of damage. The invention also provides a method for making the loose leaf page of the invention as well as an album, scrapbook and the like comprising the loose leaf pages of the invention.

1 . A loose-leaf page comprising
 a display panel and a binding panel, the binding panel being spaced apart from the display panel,   wherein at least a portion of the display panel and at least a portion of the binding panel are coated with a laminating sheet, and the display panel and the binding panel are spaced apart and separated by a flexible region formed by the laminating sheet.   
   
   
       2 . The loose-leaf page according to  claim 1 , wherein the laminating sheet is transparent. 
   
   
       3 . The loose-leaf page according to  claim 1 , wherein the laminating sheet is attached to one or both of the binding panel and the display panel by an adhesive. 
   
   
       4 . The loose-leaf page according to  claim 1 , wherein the laminating sheet is applied to at least one side of the loose-leaf page. 
   
   
       5 . The loose-leaf page according to  claim 4 , wherein the laminating sheet is applied to both sides of the display panel. 
   
   
       6 . The loose-leaf page according to  claim 1 , wherein the laminating sheet overlies graphic material mounted on the display panel. 
   
   
       7 . An album, notebook, or scrapbook comprising one or more loose-leaf pages according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       8 . The album, notebook, or scrapbook of  claim 7 , wherein the loose-leaf pages are bound together at the binding panel of each page. 
   
   
       9 . The album, notebook, or scrapbook of  claim 8 , wherein the binding panel of each page is provided with one or more apertures, and the album comprises one or more binding members, each binding member passing through one or more of the apertures. 
   
   
       10 . The album, notebook, or scrapbook according to  claim 7 , further comprising one or both of a front cover and a back cover. 
   
   
       11 . A method for producing a loose leaf page comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a page blank having a display panel, a binding panel, and at least one of a top margin and a bottom margin, the binding panel being spaced apart from the display panel by an intervening section of the page blank;   (b) forming a slot in the intervening section while maintaining the integrity of the page blank;   (c) applying to at least a portion of the binding panel and at least a portion of the display panel a flexible laminating sheet; and   (d) removing one or both of the top margin and the bottom margin so that the display panel is separated from the binding panel by a flexible region comprising the laminating sheet.   
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising applying graphic material to one or more surfaces of the display panel prior to application of the laminating sheet. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the binding panel is provided with one or more apertures adapted to receive a binding member therethrough. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the laminating sheet is transparent. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein one or more loose-leaf pages are produced by a method of web printing.